Apparatus for topping pottery



Feb. 10, 1931. D. l.. ROULEAU APPARATUS FOR TOPPING POTTERY Filed May 51, 1927 attenuato Patented Feb. 10, 1931 DAVID L. ROULEAU, 0F MOUNT' CLEMENS, MICHIGAN i '.APPARATUS TOPPING POTTERY Y Application le'clMay 31, 192'?.V Serial No. 195,479.

The invention relates to the manufacture of pottery, and more particularly to the step in the manufacturing process wherein the molded unbakedrarticle is subjected to vspong- 5 ing, polishing and toppingto render the same in propercondition for firing in a kiln.

One ofthe objects of the invention is to provide anfimproved method for topping the potter ,which is capable of being carried out by machines instead of hand labor. Another object is to provide an improved form of tool for finishing the annular vrounded edges of the .pottery prior to baking. ,A further obj ect is to provide an improved chuck for mounting vand spinning the green or unbaked pottery, said chuck being composed of a material which does not warp and does not discolor the pottery and `can be used for long periods of time without replacement .or reair. Y f p In order to attain these objects, I have devised an improved apparatus 'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a viewl at right angles to Figure1. Y. Y y vFigure 3 is an end viewr with certain. parts broken away to. more lclearly illustrate the Y construction. Y v

Figure 4 is a detailed view of the tool clamp. Y v f f Figure 5 is a section on theline 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the Vmanufacture of articles of pottery,

5 such as teacups and the-like, it is the usual practice to mold the, clay to the desired forni and after subjecting the same to a preliminary drying to mount `thesame upon a rotatable spindle for the purpose of finishing or topping the outer edges of the article and sponging and polishing the sides preparav tory to` firing in the kiln. Prior to my invention `these steps have required hand labor, the topping being performed by a'workman who manually holds a iiat strip of'metal provided with a curved notch in the endthereof and brings the notched portion of jthe strip into engagement with the edge of the cupl or other article. In carrying out thisoperation the, notched strip or toolI is held, substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the edge of the cup, with the result that the tool` acts as a scraper and the curve of the edge is determined by thecurve of the notch. l. According to myinvention the topping is carried out by a machine in which a tool is rigidly mounted in suoli relation to the rotating chuck thata slight feeding movement brings the tool into engagement with the edge of the work piece. Instead ofemploying a notched flat strip my; machine is provided with a modified form of tool which resembles a gouge, .that is,"in cross section it is concavoconvex. The longitudinal axis of the tool is arranged at an inclination to theplane of rotation of the edge ofthe cup, and the angle is such that while, providing clearance -for the supporting Vportion of the tool the inner concave surface` conforms to the shape of the rounded edge on the work piece. Thus instead of acting as a scraper the tool has an improved cutting action and forlms a smoother surface with less likelihood of chipping or tearing the surface of the clay. V

Referring 'now more particularly to the construction illustrated in the drawings7 the frame 1 is provided with bearings 2 for a shaft-0r spindleV 3 on which is secured the chuck 4f. The chuck is made of suitable forni to 4receive the particular type of pottery which is to be finished, but in general it is provided with aconical surface 5. 6 represents the article of pottery, which in the present instance isa teacup, having the flaring k'sides 7 and the outwardly curved edge 8.

The cup is held in engagement with the chuck by friction. v

Extending from the frame 1 is a bracket 9 on which is supported a dovetailed guide- Way 10. 11 is a slide mounted on the dovetailed guideway to reciprocate in a 4direction substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 3. Atome end of the slide is a ,bracket 12 having a recess` 13 therein forV receiving the tool holder 14. The tool holder is clamped in position by the Ufshaped bracketV .15" and thumb nuts 16. -17 and 18 are rods extending from the slide -11 and having ysleeved thereon the springs 1,9.` jThese `springs abut. at rone end against the collars 20, and at the opposite ends against the strips 2l, which latter are carried by the fixed guideway 10. For reciprocating the slide l1 there is provideda lever 22 fulcrumed at 23 on the fixed guideway and carrying a roller 24 engageable with the slide l1. rl`hus by moving the lever 22 the slide 1l is moved substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 3 against the tension of the springs 1'? and 18.

rl`he tool holder 14 comprises a tubular portion held by the clamp l5 and hai/'ing the angularly extending jaw 2G. Slidable within the tube is a rod 27, which at o ne end has the angularly extendmg portion forming the cooperating' jaw 28 and at the other end is threaded to receive a clamping nut 29. rlhe jaw 28 has a convex surface 30, While the jaw Q6 has the concave surface 3l, these two surfaces cooperating to receive and clamp therein the tool 32. The tool 32 is concavo-convex in cross section and extends outwardly from the jaws 2G and 28 at such an angle as to engage the outer edge 8 of the cup at an inclination to the plane of rotation thereof. In this manner the cross sectional contour of the tool determines the curvature of the edge of the cup. The tool is inclined suiiiciently with respect to the plane of rotation so that clearance is provided, thus insuring that only the outer edge of the tool contacts with the edge of the cup.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The cups or other articles of pottery are successively engaged with the chuck 4 While the same is rotating and are held in position by friction engagement. The tool 32 is then advanced into engagement With the edge of the cup by manual operation of the lever 22 Which imparts a. substantially axial feed 4motion thereto.

In the topping of pottery, as heretofore carried out, it has been customary to mount the articles upon a tapered Wooden chuck, but when Wood is used for the chuck it is necessary to periodically true the surface of the same because the continued use results in ivaaage and consequently misalignment of the pottery. According to my invention the chuck 4 is not made of Wood but of some other suitable material Which is preferably moldable and is non-warping and non-rusting and capable of being used for long periods of time Without repair. Preferably chuck is made of cast aluminum, although if desired certain other'materials might be used as substitutes, such for example as b akelite, 'Wood 'fibre or other non-metallic material resista-nt to Warping. The material selected, however, must not discolor the pottery as would be the case if ironor brass were used. The discoloration of the pottery results from the factfthat a small amount of the metal will be rubbed off on the surface of the pottery, anda veryslight trace of metal Will ordinarilyrcsult'in stain upon the pottery after the same has been tired in the kiln. When aluminum is the material used for chuck the finished product has no stains or discoloration, because even if a slight amount of metal is found on the surface of the pottery prior to tiring, it will be entirely removed during the baking process by being' converted into the colorless aluminum oxide, which is one of the ingredients of clay. Therefore, aluminum is an ideal material for a pottery chuck, since it neither Warps under continuous use nor discolors the articles frictionally engaged thereby.

Vhat I claim as my invention is:

l. A machine for topping pottery comprising a rotatable chuck adapted to hold an article of pottery having an edge of rounded cross section, a tool holder mounted to move axially of said chuck, a tool of concavo-convex cross section supported by said tool holder and having its longitudinal axis extending at an inclination to the plane of'rotation of said edge, the inclination being such that the concave portion of the tool conforms to the rounded cross section of said edge.

2. A machine for topping pottery comprising a frame, a rotatable chuck journaled thereon adapted to hold an article of pottery having an annular edge of rounded cross section, a member mounted on said frame to slide axially of said chuck and a tool supported by said slide and having its axis extending at fan inclination to the plane of rotation of said annular edge, said tool having a concave surface extending longitudinally thereof.

3. In a machine for topping pottery a rotatable chuck for engaging unbaked pottery composed of a non-warping material of such composition as to leave no discoloration on the pottery after the latter is fired'.

4. In a machine for topping pottery a rotatable-chuck having the surface for engaging the pottery composed of aluminum.

5. A chuck for rotatably supporting unbaked pottery comprising a conical member composed of aluminum casting.

6. A machine for topping pottery comprising a frame, a rotatable chuck journaled thereon and adapted to hold an article of pottery, a bracket extending from said frame, a tool holder slidably mounted on said bracket and having a tool engageable with theedge-of said article, and meanscarried by said bracket for operating said tool holder.

7. A machine for topping pottery comprising a frame, a rotatable chuck journaled thereon and adaptedto hold an article of pottery, a bracket extending .from said frame, a tool holder slidably mountedon said bracket andhaving a tool engageable'with the edge of said articleat an angle inclined to the plane of rotation of the article, and a lever pivoted to said bracket and adapted'to operate said toolholder.

8. A machine for topping pottery includporting an. article of pottery having an annular edge of rounded cross section, va tool of concavo-convex cross section adapted for engagement with the said edge of the article of pottery, and means for supporting said tool at an inclination to the plane of rotation of the said edge.

10. A machine for topping pottery including in combination a frame, a rotatable chuck carried thereby and adapted to hold an article of pottery, a guideway carried by said trame, a tool holder slidably mounted on said guideivay and having a tool engageable VWith the edge of said article, and means for moving said tool holder to engage said tool with t-he edge of the article of pottery.

11. A machine for topping pottery including in combination a frame, a rotatable chuck carried by said trame and adapted to hold an article of pottery, a guidevvay carried by said frame, a member slidably mounted on said guideway, a tool holder carried by saidlmember and having a tool engageable with the edge of said article, and means carried by said guideWay and engaging said member for moving said tool holder to engage said tool .3 with the edge of said article.

12. A machine for topping pottery including in combination a frame, a rotatable chuck carried by said frame and adapted to hold rotatable chuck for engaging unbaked pot* tery composed of bakelite.

17 In a machine for topping pottery, a rotatable chuck for engaging unbaked pottery composed of Wood fibre.

18. A machine for topping pottery including in combination a frame, a rotatable chuck carried thereby and adapted to hold an ar-v ticle of pottery, a tool for shaping the edge of said article'of pottery, means mounting said tool for movement axially of said chuck into and out of engagement with the edge of said article of pottery, and means for moving said tool.

19. A machine for toppingpottery including in combination a frame, a rotatable chuck carried thereby and adapted to hold an article of pottery, a tool for shaping the edge of the article of pottery, means mounting said tool'for movement axially of said chuck into and out of engagement With the edge of the Varticle of pottery, resilient means for moving said tool out of engagement With the edge of the article of pottery, and a lever for moving the tool into engagement WithV the edge of the article of pottery against the tension of said resilient means. Y

In testimony whereof I airix my signature.

DAVID L. ROULEAU.

an article of pottery, a guidevvay carried by said frame, a member slidably mounted on said guideway, a tool holder carried by said member and having a tool engageable with the edge of said article, and means carried by said guidevvay and engaging said member or moving said tool holder to engage said tool with the edge of said article, said last mentioned means including a lever pivoted on said guidevvay and rollers carried by said lever and engageable with said member.' v

13. In a machine :tor topping pottery, a rotatable chuck having a surface 'for engaging the pottery composed of a moldable and non-warping material.

14. In a machine for topping pottery, a

rotatable chuck for engaging unbaked pottery composed of a moldable, non-rusting and non-warping material.

15. A machine Jfor topping pottery including in combination means for rotatably supi' porting an article of pottery having an annular edge of rounded cross section, and a tool of rounded cross sectional shape adapted for engagement With the said edge of the article of pottery to shape the same.

16. In a machine for topping pottery, a 

